Granted Patent B1

US 12,622,472 · App. 18/916,344 · Granted May 12, 2026

Inventors: David J. Payton (Orland Park, IL); Daniel R. Oriente (Downers Grove, IL)

Assignee: Jax Athletics, LLC

A41D13/08A41D13/06

Abstract

Claims (15)

1 . A protective guard in the form of a combination protective arm/leg guard and sliding guard for a baseball player comprising:

a base member defining a rigid protective layer, the base member further defining a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side wherein the base member defines a curvature between the sides, the base member having an aperture therethrough;

an external layer connected to the base member between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side wherein a pocket is formed between the base member and the external layer; and,

a connector assembly connected to the base member, the connector assembly having a strap member having a hook and loop fastener thereon,

wherein the guard has a first configuration configured to be worn by the player on one of an arm of the player wherein the strap is configured to be wrapped around and fastened around the arm by the hook and loop fastener, wherein the guard functions as an elbow guard, and a leg of the player wherein the strap is configured to be wrapped around and fastened around the leg by the hook and loop fastener, wherein the guard functions as a shin guard, and wherein the guard has a second configuration configured to worn by the player wherein the player inserts a hand into the pocket and wherein the aperture is configured to receive a thumb of the player, wherein the guard functions as a sliding guard, wherein the aperture comprises a pair of apertures, a first aperture in the base member spaced away from a second aperture in the base member, wherein the first aperture is configured to receive a right-hand thumb of the player and the second aperture is configured to receive a left-hand thumb of the player.

2 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the pocket is dimensioned to receive and cover fingers of the player.

3 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the base member has a cover member positioned over the protective layer.

4 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the base member has a distal extension.

5 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the strap member comprises a first strap member and a second strap member, the second strap member spaced away from the first strap member.

6 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the protective layer is made from a rigid plastic material.

7 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the pocket defines an opening proximate an intermediate location of the base member.

8 . The protective guard of claim 7 wherein the pocket defines a closed end at a distal end of the base member.

9 . The protective guard of claim 1 wherein the external layer is a resilient and flexible layer.

10 . A protective guard in the form of a combination protective arm/leg guard and sliding guard for a baseball player comprising:

a protective layer configured to be worn by the baseball player, the protective layer having a first aperture and a second aperture spaced away from the first aperture, the guard having a first configuration configured to be worn on one of an arm of the player wherein the guard functions as an elbow guard and a leg of the player wherein the guard functions as a shin guard, and a second configuration configured to be worn on a hand of the player, wherein the first aperture is configured to receive a right-hand thumb of the player and the second aperture is configured to receive a left-hand thumb of the player wherein the guard functions as a sliding guard.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (13)